Surgical management of dorsal scapular luxation in three dogs

(1) Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; (2) Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Keywords

surgery, dog, Scapula, luxation, traumatic

Summary

Scapular luxation is an uncommon cause of forelimb lameness in dogs and cats. Traumatic rupture of the serratus ventralis muscle allows the scapula to displace dorsally during weight-bearing. Specific documentation regarding clinical presentation and surgical techniques is limited, with no medium- to long-term results of surgical intervention in dogs described. Presented here are three cases of scapular luxation in dogs, treated with a modified surgical technique. Clinical outcome was considered good to excellent, with resolution of lameness and abnormal scapular motion in all three dogs. Medium- and long-term outcomes were assessed in two of the dogs, with an excellent outcome in both cases.